Projects
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research
Applications for year 2 will open on September 17, 2025.
Deadline for Application: October 31, 2025
Estimated Review Period: November 1 - December 31, 2025
Estimated Period of Performance: February 1, 2026 - January 31, 2027
Award Amount: Up to $75,000/Institution
Overview of Funding Opportunity
There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory and on-farm biological risk management has gaps, and that applied agricultural biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence. This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied agricultural biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis. ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the key focus areas and at least one component under that area.
Key Focus Areas
Area IA: On-Farm Biocontainment and Biosecurity Measures
Components: Improving engineering solutions to mitigating pathogens; cost-benefit analysis of implementing various biosecurity interventions (based on sector, production stage, and/or target pathogen); Cyberbiosecurity threats (securing farming systems from interference); Sanitation, decontamination and/or waste management; and Equipment maintenance
Area IB: Laboratory Biocontainment and Biosecurity Measures
Components: Risk assessment (pathogen, people and/or environment); Aquaculture biosecurity; Cyberbiosecurity threats (protection of intellectual property, securing laboratory systems from interference); Aerobiology and aerosol dispersal; Sanitation, decontamination and/or waste management; Equipment maintenance; and Insider threat/Outsider threat/Personnel reliability programs
Area II: Applied Agricultural Biosafety – Building Resilience
Components: Risk Communication Strategies (operational, messaging, or extension education strategies/modalities); Laboratory accidents (prevention, reporting mechanisms, response); Occupational health and worker safety (laboratory, field, farm, extension services); Field biosafety (surveillance, response); Field techniques (local, state, federal); Sample transport (decontamination, inactivation, and/or validation in field and on farm); and Workforce development* (innovative approaches to addressing agricultural biorisk management challenges)
* Proposals that address workforce development must describe how the proposed objective(s) and deliverable(s) incorporate new learning technologies, techniques, and/or core competencies. We are looking for innovative approaches to addressing agricultural biorisk management challenges; if training is a portion of that, you must clearly articulate how the proposed curriculum/training will advance the current evidence base and how you plan to make it accessible at the end of the project.
In addition to publishing our findings with our awarded recipients, ERGP will make all materials (and accompanying guidance) available on our ERGP website, free to download and access. Our intent is to improve the sharing of lessons learned from both governmental and non-governmental communities of practice and support the rollout of evidence-based approaches for addressing agricultural biorisk.
Grants will be awarded to selected institutions for up to $75,000 USD in funding support over a 12-month period of performance. Each facility will develop a budget associated with the research plan to be approved before funds are distributed. Participating laboratories are required to provide a mandatory 20% cost share contribution to the overall project budget. Detailed instructions on submission for this RFP can be found below. Only complete submissions will be reviewed and considered for funding.
Proposal Consideration
This funding opportunity aims at the design and implementation of applied agricultural biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens.
This work will contribute to recommended guidance on laboratory biosafety, using research techniques to evaluate the application and effectiveness in operational contexts. All proposals must make a clear experimental plan for how the applicant will test the application and outcomes of their focus area(s)/component(s) in their facility.
Eligible Applicants
ERGP welcomes submissions from laboratories across the United States working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens. Applicants must demonstrate a partnership with either a USDA or RAV3N-network laboratory in their proposal.
Content Consideration
Applicants must follow the instructions and conditions contained herein and supply all information required. Failure to furnish complete information or comply with stated requirements will result in disqualification from consideration.
Contact Us
If you have any questions on the requirements, please contact our Program Manager, Hannah, at hottman1@jhu.edu.
NOFO and Materials
- Stakeholder Pre-Application Form
- Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (PDF)
- Elizabeth R. Griffin Program Project Proposal Template (DOCX)
- ERGP Budget Justification Template (DOCX)
- ERGP RFP Budget Template (XLSX)
- Submit your proposal
Year 1 | Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research
With much gratitude to all of those who submitted applications, we at ERGP are proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research funding opportunity.
Dr. Dennis Bente, DVM, PhD
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Effectiveness of shower-out procedures on different hairstyles and the use of hair covers to eliminate fomite contamination
Key focus areas: Facility Management and Innovation
Dr. Kurt Zuelke, DVM, PhD
Texas A&M University Global Health Research Complex
Optimization of Airflow at High Containment Large Animal Research Facilities to Reduce Pathogen Spread
Key Focus Areas: Facility Management and Innovation
Dr. Phillipe Sessou, PhD
University of Abomey-Calavi Research Unit on Communicable Diseases
Strengthening biosafety and biosecurity practices in veterinary laboratories in Benin to mitigate high-consequence pathogen risks (B-SAFE VET)
Key focus areas: Facility Management and Workforce Development
Dr. Dodd Sledge, DVM, PhD
Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Addressing Biorisk Process Gaps and Training Program Deficiencies in a Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory’s Necropsy Facility
Key focus areas: Facility Management and Workforce Development
We thank the United States Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (ARS) and Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for supporting this important initiative. We look forward to supporting the first cohort of awardees as they address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence agricultural and veterinary pathogens.
A special thank you to our expert review committee:
- Mr. Joseph Kozlovac, MS, RBP, CBSP, SM(NRCM), USDA ARS
- Dr. Travis McCarthy, PhD, RBP(ABSA), USDA APHIS
- Ms. Rebecca Moritz, MS, CBSP (ABSA), SM (NRCM), Colorado State University
- Dr. Sherry Bohn, PhD, MSL, CBSP(ABSA), University of Maryland, Baltimore, ABSA International
- Mr. James Welch, ERGP
- Dr. Heather Fowler, VMD, MPH, PhD, National Pork Board
- Dr. Elke Mühlberger, PhD, Boston University, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
Year 1 | Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Details
Addressing Agricultural Biorisk Evidence Base Gaps with Applied Research
Deadline for Application: April 14, 2025
Estimated Review Period: April 14-May 14, 2025
Estimated Period of Performance: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Award Amount: Up to $75,000/Institution
Overview
There is a global recognition that the current evidence base to inform laboratory biological risk management has gaps, and that biosafety and biosecurity policies are not always based on evidence.1 This notice of funding will support the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens as identified during the RAV3N Biorisk and Biosafety Gap Assessment Workshop2 or similar gap analysis like the WOAH working group agent specific biorisk gap analysis.1 ERGP is seeking proposals that address one or more key focus area components listed below. Each proposal will go through an internal ERGP and external expert review. Successful proposals should address at least one of the three key focus areas and at least one component under that area.
Key Focus Areas
Area I: Facilities Management
Components: Hierarchy of Controls in Labs, Dispersal of Infectious Aerosols, Animal Housing, Waste Management, Equipment Maintenance; Risk Assessment Methodologies; and/or Workflow and processes within facilities.
Area II: Workforce Development
Components: Training and curriculum in Agriculture Biorisk (to address all levels and align with novel technologies or processes); Personnel Retention; Insider threat/Outsider Threat/Personnel Reliability Programs; Multidisciplinary Approaches in Agriculture Biorisk (establishing best practices); and/or Exposure Monitoring (LAIs)/Incident Reporting processes.
Area III: Innovation
Components: Greener Technologies (disinfectants/ waste management/ laboratory consumables and building operations); Risk Communication Strategies; Developing Mis/Disinformation Resiliency; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency Efforts; Remote Sensing/Robotics; Cybersecurity, Data-sharing (protocols and procedures); Field Techniques (local/state/federal); Risk Assessment (pathogen, people and/or environment)
Grants will be awarded to selected institutions for up to $75,000 USD in funding support over a 12-month period of performance. Each facility will develop a budget associated with the research plan to be approved before funds are distributed. Participating laboratories are required to provide a mandatory 20% cost share contribution to the overall project budget. Detailed instructions on submission for this RFP can be found below. Only complete submissions will be reviewed and considered for funding.
Proposal Consideration
This funding opportunity aims at the design and implementation of applied biorisk research to address evidence gaps in working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens.
This work will contribute to recommended guidance on laboratory biosafety and agricultural biosecurity, using research techniques to evaluate the application and effectiveness in operational contexts. All proposals must make a clear experimental plan for how the applicant will test the application and outcomes of their focus area(s)/component(s) in their facility.
Eligible Applicants
ERGP welcomes submissions from laboratories working with high-consequence veterinary and agricultural pathogens at land grant universities, research and academic institutions.
Content Consideration
Applicants must follow the instructions and conditions contained in the NOFO and supply all information required. Failure to furnish complete information or comply with stated requirements will result in disqualification from consideration.
Contact Us
If you have any questions on the requirements, please contact our Program Manager at hottman1@jhu.edu.